Online Gaming’s Impact on Atlantic City: A Timeline

Reports of Atlantic City’s decline have been greatly exaggerated.

The New Jersey casino hub has not only been surviving, but thriving in a state that offers legal online gaming. According to our timeline, this Atlantic City renaissance has coincided with the surge of economic activity that has come from legal online gaming in New Jersey.

According to our white paper, “Economic Impact of New Jersey Online Gaming: Lessons Learned,” online gaming was more complementary to casino gaming than anyone expected. Rather than taking a chunk out of casino revenue streams, online gaming supplemented and promoted increased in-person casino gaming.

The infographic below illustrates the chronology of the city’s renaissance in relation to online gaming’s legalization.

Now, Atlantic City is enjoying unprecedented developer confidence that is resulting in flourishing commercial activity. Here are just a few of the latest developments:

• Hard Rock Invests in Atlantic City. Hard Rock Casino will renovate and reopen the Trump Taj Mahal concurrently with a $375 million investment in the city.

 

• Caesars Launches New Convention Center. The Waterfront Conference Center at Harrah’s will be the one of the most advanced corporate meeting centers in the nation and improve on the $400 million annually that Caesars makes through conventions.

 

• MGM Goes “All In” In Atlantic City. Recent profit spikes have altered MGM’s involvement in the city. Earlier in the decade, MGM was attempting to divest. Now, the company has doubled down, purchasing a 50% share of Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa from Borgata for $900 million to become its sole owner.

Casino-driven online gaming has led to increased brand engagement and a better experience for players both online and off. By the data we have now, it’s clear that concerns about online gaming negatively affecting New Jersey’s gaming economy were simply unfounded.